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The Importance of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo

Did you know the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo (JMZ) has been serving families in our community for over 80 years? Since 1934, the JMZ has educated children in science and nature through hands-on play and instruction. But the JMZ isn’t just for Palo Alto kids – it serves a wider purpose in early education in our community.

THE SCIENCE OUTREACH PROGRAM

Low-income school districts: Through the Science Outreach Program, the Friends of the Junior Museum & Zoo (Friends) raises money every year for JMZ Educators to teach STEM lessons at low-income schools in East Palo Alto and East Menlo Park at no cost to the schools or district. This is the same curriculum provided at a cost to PAUSD students.

1,605 students: The Science Outreach Program reaches 1,605 students served in Ravenswood School District (East Palo Alto), as well as two schools in Mountain View and Sunnyvale.

Full Science Curriculum: The Science Outreach Program delivers a comprehensive science curriculum across all elementary grades K-5.

Over 18 years: The Friends has been funding 100% of the Science Outreach Program since 1999.

VISITORS TO THE JMZ

We make a difference in the community: We have approximately 150,000 visitors each year. Of those, 80% are repeat visitors, 57% visit at least 4 times per year and 28% of visit at least once a month.

We serve the WHOLE community: 45% of our visitors are from low- to moderate- household incomes.

We serve families from the mid-Peninsula: 84% of our visitors are from Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

OUR EDUCATION PARTNERS

Stanford University (all Stanford University partners sit on the JMZ Initiative Advisory Council):

David Kelley, founder of IDEO, engaged his class from Stanford’s School of Design to develop prototype exhibits for the new JMZ.

Hyowon Gweon, PhD, Department of Psychology, operates a Social Learning Lab (link) at the JMZ. Her team is videotaping children while at play and using interview techniques to gain insight on how children learn.

Nicole Ardoin is Assistant Professor at the School of Education and the Woods Institute for the Environment. She researches the effectiveness of environmental studies and environmental behavior for a young audience taking advantage of the informal learning environment at JMZ.

Google sponsored 18 field trips in 2015-16, allowing all 3rd grade classes in the Ravenswood School District (East Palo Alto) to visit the JMZ as a complement to the science classes taught by JMZ Educators.

The JMZ is exploring a mapping exhibit for visitors from 2-10 years of age in partnership with Google Maps and Stanford University. This partnership is interested in understanding how mapping helps young children learn.

Google is using the JMZ as a resource to coordinate development of their STEM Learning Environment associated with NASA at Moffett Field.

JMZ INITIATIVE

The JMZ was founded over 80 years ago by Josephine O’Hara, and was first children’s museum west of the Mississippi.

The JMZ building is old, too small and run down to serve our JMZ community and the next generation of JMZ users.

The Peery Foundation has offered an unprecedented matching gift of $15 million to help replace the current building (the Friends will raise $10 million for a total $25 million campaign in Phase 1).

We have raised over $9MM to reach our goal by January 31, 2017. To see the many local families and foundations who have donated to our exciting project, please visit our supporter list.